'The Celebration Goes On' for St Andrew High School for Girls

On Sunday, the burgundy-and-grey-clad ladies of Cecelio Avenue - St Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS) - took over The Little Theatre, located on Tom Redcam Avenue.

Joined by old girl Nadine Sutherland and gospel artistes Robert and Jenieve Bailey, the approximately 150 students entertained their peers, relatives and friends with songs, dance, and poetry.

Dubbed 'The Celebration Goes On', the evening of culture began with a combined performance from the school's choir and speech choir. Their performance titled Alleluia Unto the Lord incorporated speech and singing. The gospel motif continued with the SAHS dance troupe's He is Great.

The choir returned with another stirring performance of First Call (Praise the Lord). And gospel artistes, Robert and Jenieve Bailey added the professional touch to the gospel section before the Sign Language Club signed out with Rejoice.

The entertainment continued with SAHS member of staff Franklin Burrell, swooning the audience with You and Me. Students Genille Williams, Justine Rookwood, Gabrielle Edwards, Simone Gardner, and Imani Williams, chosen through the SAHS Evening of Culture Talent Search, demonstrated to the full house why they had been selected. Their selections included jazz and pop.

first-half drumming

The SAHS Drumming Ensemble, and the senior members of the dance troupe closed the first half of the show with Camel and Classic, respectively.

But the pick of the evening's event came in the diverse second half. The segment began with the school's band performing a medley of three pieces titled Secret Clock Of Linstead Market.

Talent search finalists, Kimberley Rowe and Christina Mason gave a passionate singing of Fireworks. And the section dubbed Folka - Pop had the Grade 8 All Stars applying the folk touch with a colourful Brukin's Down Memory Lane. The dance troupe gave its final performance with Girls Rule.

One of the picks of the evening came from the school's speech choir with an adaptation of Louise Bennett's South Parade Peddlar. However, it was Edna Manley College's student-teacher Venecia Nicholson who received the standing ovation when she sang Can't Stop Loving You.

She was followed by Nadine Sutherland, who gave a gusty singing of At Last, and a sanitised version of her reggae classic Action Not A Bag Mouth.

The delightful Sunday evening began wrapping up with the drumming ensemble and closed with a colourful display by the performing ensemble singing and dancing two versions of So Long, Farewell.

Also included in the programme for the 12th evening of culture was the singing of the national anthem and a welcome speech from Principal Sharon Reid. Regina Beavers, another old girl, was the MC.

The artistic directors for the large groups were Rochelle Linton Hughes (choir), Terry Hall (dance troupe), Ouida Lewis (drumming ensemble), Herbert McLean (band) and Marcia Rowe (speech choir).

The Evening of Culture is an annual fund-raising venture orga-nised by the SAHS parent-teachers' association.